I got a new physical PS5 copy of this on sale for less than a local food truck charged me for lunch this week.

I was not expecting much. It’s originally a mobile game (Apple Arcade exclusive, I believe?), and you can tell… a little from the visuals, a lot from the UI.

But… I kind of love it?

I have a soft spot for Space Harrier, and this is basically a sequel to that. It has a sort of late 2000s/early 2010s arcade vibe, which I can dig. The completely bizarre Queen-esque soundtrack goes way harder than it has any right to. And I appreciate that they modernized the arcade gameplay with unlockable cosmetics, weaponry and modifiers so I could actually beat the story without continues or other tomfoolery.

Is it as good a stylish, music-heavy rails shooter as my beloved Rez or something like Sayonara Wild Hearts? No, not even close! But honestly, I had a great time anyway. Critically, I want to be level-headed and give this three stars. But I gotta be true to my heart and bump it up to four. ✌️